The nurse who has been remanded to quarantine in her Maine home due to Ebola concerns broke that quarantine yesterday, leaving her home and even going as far as to make contact with reporters.
Kaci Hickox spent time treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone for Doctors Without Borders before being quarantined after displaying a fever at Newark International Airport last week. Her treatment included being relegated to an unheated tent despite testing negative for the disease.
Although she was allowed to return to her native Kent, Me. earlier this week, she was asked to stay inside of her home until Nov. 10, when Ebola's 21-day incubation period ends. However, Hickox ended her quarantine yesterday:
Kaci Hickox broke her quarantine by leaving her home with her boyfriend and speaking briefly to reporters in her driveway Wednesday evening. State and local police could only watch from across the street because a judge hadn't signed off on a court order sought by state health officials.
She reiterated that she planned to fight the state's quarantine and said there was no need to stay inside because she's not exhibiting any symptoms.
While standing outside, Hickox reportedly told the media she's "not willing to [allow her] civil rights be violated when it's not science-based." Per the Associated Press, Hickox continued to push the envelope this morning:
BREAKING: Nurse defies state's forced quarantine, goes for bike ride with her boyfriend in Maine.
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 30, 2014The Associated Press adds that there's little authorities can do:
Until an order is signed by a judge, state police will monitor Hickox's movement and interactions if she leaves her home but can't physically detain her, said Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew.
[via Associated Press]
